Because the Earth’s orbit around the Sun is not an exact circle, there is a point in the year when we are closest to the Sun and a point when we are the farthest away from the Sun. Today, the Earth is at its farthest point away from the Sun…94.5 million miles away! Back on January 2nd, the Earth was at its closest point to the Sun…91.5 million miles away. So we are 4 million miles farther away!

However, the distance from the Sun is NOT what causes the seasons. Our seasons are caused because the Earth is tilted on its axis at 23.5º. This tilt gives more direct sunlight to the Northern Hemisphere in our summer…even though we are farther from the sun! Now you know.